Study of the discharge behavior of Rosin-Rammler particle-size distributions from hopper by discrete element method: A systematic updates analysis of mass flow rate, segregation and velocity profiles

In the present work, the discrete element method (DEM) is used to investigate the behaviour of Rosin-Rammler (R-R) particle size distribution (PSD) during hopper discharge. The study attempts to identify mass flow rate (MFR) and segregation as a function of spread parameter (PSD width) and location parameter, which includes detailed analysis of bulk density, segregation and velocity profile of particles. The applicability of the widely used Beverloo correlation for prediction of MFR for studied R-R PSDs is also investigated. The results show that, (1) MFR increases as PSD width (at fixed location parameter) increases, whereas MFR decreases with increase in location parameter at fixed PSD width; (2) the studied R-R PSDs exhibit a monotonic trend of flow bulk density and MFR with respect to PSD width and location parameter; (3) the effect of PSD width on overall segregation is found to be more than the location parameter; (4) the velocity profiles for considered R-R PSDs vary along the height of hopper, but remain uniform in shape and follow a pure parabolic increase from the hopper wall; (5) DEM flow rate prediction shows a good agreement with the Beverloo correlation by applying the concept of flow bulk density. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.